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NHL Picks

Daily NHL Picks: Wednesday's Top Favorites to Play & Win

Small slate of games in the works tonight. Seeing we usually have three sports picks, with just four games from the sportsbooks betting odds, today was more a process of elimination.

Yesterday, thought the stars were aligned for a number of upsets for NHL picks, they were not, as the more traditional way of looking at games worked across board, but we still remain at 13-8 of late.

Here are hump day's trio of plays in order of preference, as we seek a bounce back day against NHL odds.

Colorado Takes the Wind Out of Carolina
This is Game 3 of Carolina's seven-stop road excursion and while it will not be easy, the way the schedule dates worked out, they went back to Raleigh, having four days before continuing trip and playing this contest. The Hurricanes started 1-1 and among the aspects they worked on back home was the power play, which is just 2 for 20 on the season. Also, defense and getting goalie Cam Ward back in groove would be a positive, as Carolina has allowed four goals three times in five games.

A point of emphasis coming into the season for Colorado was being more dynamic on offense and that was accomplished in four contests with 15 goals. However, that came at the expense of playing sound defense and the Avalanche were blitzed for 14 goals in first three outings, before being judicious about the back end and have allowed the opposing team just two goals in past two contests.

The NHL odds at Heritagesports have Colorado at -135 and they have not lost to Carolina since they were previously known as the Hartford Whalers back in 1996 and are 9-0-1, plus two ties since. With the Hurricanes just 4-19 in road games playing only their second contest in five days the last few seasons, this NHL handicapper likes this spot.

Boston Bashes Philadelphia
It has been a crazy start for the Boston Bruins. They opened the season with three home games and were blitzed 16-7 in dropping all three. Having two away contests next, an 0-5 start was looming, but Boston beat Colorado 6-2 and Arizona 5-3 and return home 2-3. Who is this Bruins team, hard to say, but as long as they are not overwhelmed with injuries, they should certainly be a playoff contender.

Losing those home games was stunning, as over the last three seasons the B's had the best home record in the NHL at 71-22-13. They have not lost their first four home games in a season in 50 years.

I thought Philadelphia would have beaten Dallas at home last evening, but one concern was their offense and it turned out to be the difference in 2-1 defeat. The Flyers are 26th in scoring at 1.75 goals a game and take on a Boston club whom they have lost six straight to and 15 of 19, including five in a row at TD Garden.

Detroit Holds Off Edmonton
After opening 0-4, the youthful Oilers won division road games at Vancouver and Calgary and coach Todd McCellan is encouraged. " We've still got a lot of work to do," McLellan said. "But we have guys believing now in each other and perhaps in the system."

Edmonton returns home to face Detroit, who has still working out their own problems. Normally one of the best teams in controlling the puck, the Red Wings rank last in shots on goal (21.4) and are conceding the most in the league at 33.4. First-year coach Jeff Blashill is already coming under scrutiny for Detroit's lapses in play and needs more production across the boards than those from his top line of Henrik Zetterberg, Justin Abdelkader and Dylan Larkin, who have combined for eight lamp-lighters.

Detroit opened as +100 road underdogs, but have been hit hard, and now are -130 money line favorites. Happen to agree with hockey bettors, as the Red Wings are 11-3 in nonconference road games and Edmonton is 5-17 at home having won two of last three.